Ronald D. Moore’s Virtuality airs this Friday night (June 26th) on Fox and from this writer’s perspective, it has come down a long and harrowing path to get here.

The project started out being lined up as a television pilot and through some unknown series of decisions, Fox has again taken a proven showrunner’s idea and seemingly squashed it with their thumb.

The show that was originally slated to be a pilot for a series has been reduced to a 2-hour movie that’s being aired in the vacuum of Friday. At least Fox is consistent in their handling of sci-fi projects.

It’s about 12 astronauts on Earth’s first starship called the Phaeton, on an epic 10-year journey that’s crucial to the survival of life on Earth.

The idea seemed interesting and for those in the media who have reviewed Virtuality, they make it seem like something to look forward to.

A New York Times review said, “.. .it is an impressively credentialed and stylish bit of television moviemaking, an exploration not merely of our practical dependence on technology but also of our psychological and nearly eroticized addiction to it.”

USA Today warns us that there’s an awful lot of construct and deceit for 2 hours, but then goes on to say that “it’s better than most of the networks’ summer offerings.”

LA Times Entertainment calls it like they see it by saying “that [TV network] decisions are not always based on quality of work.” and continues to say “As directed by Peter Berg (“Friday Night Lights”), this is smart, handsome TV, a witty, measured mix of sci-fi, soap and satire that offers new twists on old tropes.”

I just don’t understand how Fox can screw up potentially good shows, as they did with Firefly, but yet they do.

All we can do is tune in, possibly get some friends to watch, or DVR it and check it out within the next day or two. Then after I’ve published my next article discussing the show, you can come back and add your thoughts to the comments / discussion thread about Ronald D. Moore’s Virtualty.